Five RCMP vehicles, along with Nanaimo Fire Rescue and paramedics from BC Emergency Health Services attended Country Club Centre Tuesday night, before 7 p.m. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

POLICE PRESENCE

Man injured after unprovoked razor blade attack at Nanaimo’s Country Club Centre

Dec 21, 2022 | 2:16 PM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties have a man in custody after what they’re calling an unprovoked assault with a razor blade.

Upwards of five Nanaimo RCMP vehicles arrived rapidly to Country Club Centre around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20 after calls to 911.

Police said a 32-year-old man got into an altercation with someone at the mall, punching him in the face and slashing him across the face with a razor.

“Members got there and the fight was on, this person did not want to go into custody, Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW. “One of our officers was spat in the face, the other he tried to kick at.”

A security guard, who made the 911 call, and another individual at the shopping centre tried to restrain the man until police arrived.

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The person slashed with the blade was superficially injured on the left side of the face but declined treatment at hospital. He was tended to on scene by paramedics, with O’Brien calling him “very lucky” not to be injured further.

Investigators spoke to the victim and witnesses, but were unable to find a connection between the two involved.

“What we heard from other people at the mall is that the suspect was acting very strange. He was jumping up and down, he appeared to be praying, he was causing a disturbance and causing concern for other patrons and this was just prior to the assault.”

O’Brien said it’s not clear whether mental health or substance use issues were contributing factors.

In addition to the assault with a weapon charge, the man is also facing two charges of assaulting a police officer and one count of breaching probation.

O’Brien said the breaches were around the alleged attacker not being allowed to be in the shopping centre and not possessing any knives unless for cooking.

He is due in court Wednesday afternoon.

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